Today's Reading:

Joshua 15
Joshua 16
Joshua 17
Joshua 18

The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh were both blessed from the line of Joseph. Ephraim was elevated as the “firstborn” when Jacob crossed his hands during the blessing (Genesis 48). When the two tribes (Ephraim and the western half of Manasseh) came to Joshua to complain about the land size and only having one lot, they pointed out their population and the iron chariots of the Canaanites. Joseph’s double portion went to Ephraim and Manasseh as two full tribes- giving Joseph two shares overall. The western allotment in Canaan was given as one major territorial block to the “house of Joseph”, which was then subdivided internally with one part for Ephraim and one part for the half-tribe of Manasseh, and the land shared a border. Joshua saw through the excuse and understood they wanted easier, less difficult territory instead of trusting God to help them conquer the challenges in their own area. He told the tribes, “You’re a great people with great power,” and to clear the land themselves. God’s grace shone in the tough love moment. He did not revoke their blessings or hand them extra land on a platter. Instead, He acknowledged their strength and let them decide if they wanted more land by their own effort. The real issue was not the chariots; it was unbelief. God does not always remove obstacles from our lives, but He does give us the tools needed to face them. We must trust that His promise is bigger than the threat of chariots. The hill country could be theirs if they claimed it

 

Judah was the largest of the 12 tribes and was given boundaries for their land allotment in the Promised Land. From Edom down to Zin, which was so far south that it was at the Egypt border (Wadi of Egypt, a dry delta). Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, was given the entire city of Hebron as a promised reward by Moses from when Caleb was a spy during the time in the Wilderness. At the age of 85, he went to battle the Anakites (giants’ descendants) himself, driving out three sons of Anak. He took the responsibility to destroy the people of the land he inherited. How often do we tackle large jobs on our own without asking for help?

Caleb sought help to conquer a nearby city, Kiriath-sepher, offering his daughter Achsah as a prize to whoever helped. This could have been giving his daughter in marriage to one who passed the “leadership test” of courage, faith, and fighting skills. Caleb may also have been making sure that a strong male role model would be in the family line after he passed. Regardless of the reason, Othniel, his nephew, Achsah’s uncle, took the challenge. Othniel’s name will resurface again as he became the first judge of Israel in the book of Judges, which solidified his position as a leader. Keeping the family lineage was important, hence keeping the land in the family, so having someone from the tribe marry his daughter would ensure that the newly conquered land stayed within the family. Caleb cared for his daughter even further than just who she married and the land, which was shown by his willingness to give her springs of water. In verse 15:19, the term “Negev” means desert. Caleb’s daughter was smart to jump off her donkey and ask her father for two springs of water, since the land was nothing but desert. This land was within Judah in the south, and she was able to expand their territory just by asking. Watered by rain from the Lord, the land was a visible blessing. But there was more than a surface-level gift here. It symbolized a deeper spiritual inheritance and a heart that desired intimacy with God. Achsah asking for water was bold faith, humble asking, and trusting in God’s heart to provide. This encourages believers to seek the “living water” that makes us thrive.

This was an extensive amount of land to divvy up for Judah, with over 100 cities conquered and the details of the borders. These readings can be difficult. Try to pick out cities that you have heard of before. This conquest of the Promised Land was started by Joshua and Caleb and continued by the tribe of Judah after Joshua’s death.

However, there was a significant failure. The Jebusites, who were from Canaan and listed in the genealogy of Ham, who was Noah’s son (Genesis 10:15), were still in the land. They lived in the area around Jerusalem, where the name Jebus comes from. The tribe of Judah could not fully drive out the Jebusites and coexisted. This failure to obey God’s command to completely remove the Canaanites will cost them in the future. God gave the blessing of a vast land to Israel, which was a true gift, with humans having the responsibility to fully possess and cleanse the land. This led to a turn of events in which Israel partially obeyed God.

Chapter 16 covered the tribe of Ephraim. Joseph received his allotment through his sons Manasseh and Ephraim, which Jacob had adopted as his own. Ephraim’s land borders ran from near Jericho, west to the Mediterranean. This was fertile and a central hill country. Jacob had given priority to Ephraim when the adoption took place (Genesis 48). There were towns that belonged to Ephraim but were in the territory of Manasseh. Note that these cities were already inhabited, but the river used as a boundary line was cutting through the city. They now shared the city. This showed cooperation between the tribes, and the geographic boundary brought intermingling between the tribes to help each other drive out the Canaanites. This was also why Manasseh had land in Issachar and Asher’s territories.

Chapter 17 covered the allotment for the western half of Manasseh. Remember, Manasseh was a large tribe, and they split into two halves, with the first half taking the land on the east side of the Jordan River to be part of the two and a half Transjordan tribes. This second half of Manasseh was located north of Ephraim and included the city of Megiddo. Manasseh failed to fully drive out the Canaanites in several places, and not wanting to leave, the Canaanites were eventually turned into slaves of forced labor. This section also gave the daughters of Zelophehad land from the law that was set up by Moses, when a father passed away without having a son to inherit the land (Numbers 27:1-11, 26:1-3). A powerful example of grace where justice for women and God’s care for the vulnerable.

The chapter ended with Ephraim and Manasseh complaining that they do not have enough land. Joshua told them if they wanted the land, they would need to clear the forests and drive out the Canaanites and their chariots themselves. If you want it, go fight for it. This was tough love talk to encourage faith over complaining.

Chapter 18 moved to the entire congregation gathering at Shiloh to set up the tabernacle as the new place of worship. Joshua scolded the remaining seven tribes (Simeon, Benjamin, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan) because they were procrastinating in claiming their land. Joshua sent out three scouts from each tribe to survey the unconquered land and divide it into seven portions. Lots were cast for the land, and Benjamin received the first allotment. Benjamin had a small area, but it was key later as being a divider between Judah (south) and Ephraim/Joseph (north).

Today's Discussion question: 

Caleb received the city of Hebron because he stayed faithful to God for decades. Does this mean he was rewarded for his faith, or was it simply God keeping the promise He had made? How do we tell the difference?

 
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